AQHA Magazine January / February 2019 Jan_Feb_2019_WEBSITE | Page 36

Article kindly supplied by Kentucky Equine Research
On cold winter days, a hot beverage
helps fight off chills. Many
people like to do the same
for their horses, often in
the form of a warm bran
mash. A common belief is
that it will help warm the
horse and have a laxative
effect. However, neither
is true! Although bran
mashes often make
people feel like they’ve
done something good
for their horse, there is
no proven nutritional
benefit.
Bran is the outer layer
of grain that is removed
during milling. Wheat bran
is light and low-density, and
it contains the B-vitamins
folate, niacin, thiamin and
riboflavin. However, bran is
fairly low in fiber, contain-
ing roughly only 10-12%
crude fiber. Contrary to
popular belief, bran does
not have a laxative effect
on horses. Studies have
shown no increase in fecal
water content after ingestion of
bran mashes. In fact, feedstuffs like
beet pulp or soy hulls have much higher
digestible fiber than wheat bran. If bran mash-
es are fed inconsistently (once per week or only
when the temperature is very cold), the result may be di-
gestive upset if it is not a regular part of the horse’s diet.
“Wheat bran is high in phosphorus and low in calcium, a
situation that nutritionists refer to as a reversed calci-
um-to-phosphorus ratio,” says Kathleen Crandell, Ph.D.,
a nutritionist for Kentucky Equine Research.
Horses require more calcium than phosphorus (1.5-2
parts calcium to 1 part phosphorus for mature, adult
horses). When this ratio is reversed and not corrected, it
can cause developmental orthopedic disease in growing
animals, and nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism
(NSH), a metabolic bone disease, in growing or adult
horses. Bran is not harmful if total dietary phosphorus
is not excessive and if the diet is balanced to include an
appropriate amount of calcium.
Knowing this, you may wonder if it is ever acceptable
to feed a bran mash. The answer is yes, but it should be
done the correct way. Bran mashes have benefits, such
as helping to get some water into the horse, disguising
medication, and adding energy to the diet. Bran has a
similar energy content to oats and is typically slightly
higher in protein
concentration. However,
because bran
can have up to four
times the amount of
phosphorus compared
to other grains, the diet must
be balanced for calcium,
and total dietary phosphorus
must be kept in check.
Alfalfa and beet pulp are
good sources of calcium.
In summary, if used, a bran
mash should be consistently
offered to horses so they are
appropriately acclimated to it.
Avoid intermittent feeding of any
feedstuff the horse is not used to in
order to reduce the risk of digestive upset.
A qualified nutritionist can evaluate a horse’s
diet to ensure a proper calcium-to-phosphorus
ratio is fed. Finally, remember that the best way
to help your horse stay warm is by increasing forage
(and water) and providing shelter during a cold snap.
36 • The Australian Quarter Horse Magazine • January • February • 2019